Source: Voice of Vietnam (Viet Nam)
Source type: Radio
Published on: 29 Sep 2010
The 8th Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM) will take place in the Belgian capital city of Brussels from October 4-5 with the participation of representatives from 48 member countries.
The Head of the EU delegation in Vietnam, Sean Doyle, and Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Hubert Cooreman told a press briefing in Hanoi on September 28 that following positive results reached at the Summit in Beijing in 2008, ASEM 8 is the next step towards achieving greater well-being and more dignity for all citizens.
ASEM, which represents about 58 percent of the world population and 60 percent of the world trade performance, provides a privileged opportunity to promote dialogues on issues of common concern to the two continents and all countries over the world.
ASEM 8 is the next step towards achieving greater well-being and more dignity for all citizens. This theme, since captured by the short expression “Quality of Life”, now dominates ASEM 8.
In addition to the main topic, leaders of ASEM 8 will discuss the financial crisis, sustainable development through the effective use of energy and development of innovative technologies, food and energy security, climate change and other regional security issues.
As leader of the Vietnamese Government and Chairman of the ASEAN bloc, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will hold talks with Prime Minister of Belgium Ives Leterme.
Notably, ASEM 8 will see the first presence of Russia, Australia and New Zealand as full members.
The biennial ASEM is held rotationally in Asia and Europe, with about 60 related activities taking place over the world every year.
